Someone Is Learning How to Take Down the Internet

In light of today's DDOS situation on the East coast, this might be relevant.

We could be seeing tests to learn the limits of various sections of the internet structure and the responses used.

Schneier on Security

Over the past year or two, someone has been probing the defenses of the companies that run critical pieces of the Internet. These probes take the form
of precisely calibrated attacks designed to determine exactly how well these companies can defend themselves, and what would be required to take them
down. We don't know who is doing this, but it feels like a large nation state. China or Russia would be my first guesses.

Recently, some of the major companies that provide the basic infrastructure that makes the Internet work have seen an increase in DDoS attacks against
them. Moreover, they have seen a certain profile of attacks. These attacks are significantly larger than the ones they're used to seeing. They last
longer. They're more sophisticated. And they look like probing. One week, the attack would start at a particular level of attack and slowly ramp up
before stopping. The next week, it would start at that higher point and continue. And so on, along those lines, as if the attacker were looking for
the exact point of failure.

The attacks are also configured in such a way as to see what the company's total defenses are. There are many different ways to launch a DDoS attack.
The more attack vectors you employ simultaneously, the more different defenses the defender has to counter with. These companies are seeing more
attacks using three or four different vectors. This means that the companies have to use everything they've got to defend themselves. They can't
hold anything back. They're forced to demonstrate their defense capabilities for the attacker.

almost none of us are in any position to accurately judge the information that comes from the info peddlers. You either choose to accept someones
narrative or you dont. Governments enjoy being able to make pronouncements without having to show any proof or evidence, you know, because of
national security.

It can't always just be "for the lolz". The internet is a new frontier for warfare and control of information. Given it is used to control some much
infrastructure, it's a logical place to attack the infrastructure.

originally posted by: roadgravel
In light of today's DDOS situation on the East coast, this might be relevant.

We could be seeing tests to learn the limits of various sections of the internet structure and the responses used.

Schneier on Security

Over the past year or two, someone has been probing the defenses of the companies that run critical pieces of the Internet. These probes take the form
of precisely calibrated attacks designed to determine exactly how well these companies can defend themselves, and what would be required to take them
down. We don't know who is doing this, but it feels like a large nation state. China or Russia would be my first guesses.

Recently, some of the major companies that provide the basic infrastructure that makes the Internet work have seen an increase in DDoS attacks against
them. Moreover, they have seen a certain profile of attacks. These attacks are significantly larger than the ones they're used to seeing. They last
longer. They're more sophisticated. And they look like probing. One week, the attack would start at a particular level of attack and slowly ramp up
before stopping. The next week, it would start at that higher point and continue. And so on, along those lines, as if the attacker were looking for
the exact point of failure.

The attacks are also configured in such a way as to see what the company's total defenses are. There are many different ways to launch a DDoS attack.
The more attack vectors you employ simultaneously, the more different defenses the defender has to counter with. These companies are seeing more
attacks using three or four different vectors. This means that the companies have to use everything they've got to defend themselves. They can't hold
anything back. They're forced to demonstrate their defense capabilities for the attacker.

You do realize that DDOS'ing the Internet backbone isn't new, yes? The only thing new about "taking down the internet" is the phrasing, for one, and
how they distribute the DDoS attack. The attacks are becoming more power because of IoT and TOR. They were attacking the backbone years ago (circa
2000) and no one gave a damn -- because it barely touched bandwidth. Everyone needs to stop crediting Russia/China for these attacks, before and all
out 21st century Cyberwar becomes a reality.

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